What's the Importance of Cleaning Your Air Conditioner Coils?

In order for your air conditioner to operate efficiently, all of its components need to be working to the best of their abilities. This is especially true when it comes to the condition of your cooling coils. Today we're going to talk about what your cooling coils do and why cleaning your air conditioner's coils is essential if you want to get the most out of your system!

What do your air conditioner coils do?

Your air conditioner has two sets of coils. One is located in the indoor portion of your air conditioner and the other is located in the outdoor portion.

When your system is running, air from your home is blown over the indoor coils. The refrigerant inside those coils absorbs the heat from the air and moves it to the outdoor coils. There, your condenser unit blows air over the outdoor coils and the heat is released.

How do your air conditioner coils get dirty?

Dirt builds up naturally over time on both sets of coils. As air is cycled through your home, particles from your home's air build up on the indoor coils, especially when your air filter is clogged. As for the outdoor coils, dirt and debris that surround your condenser unit can get blown inside and buildup on the coils.

What happens when your air conditioner coils are dirty?

When your air conditioner coils have a buildup of dirt, there is an extra layer between the air that's blown over them and the refrigerant inside that absorbs and releases heat. This makes it more difficult for heat to reach and be released from the refrigerant, which means your cooling cycles will be less effective. Not only does this make it harder to cool your home, but it can also lead to major inefficiencies and higher energy bills.

How do you go about cleaning your air conditioner coils?

There are a few things that you can do to help prevent dirt buildup on your air conditioner coils. First and foremost, it's important to change your air filter every month so that it can trap particles before they reach your indoor coils. When it comes to your outdoor coils, try and keep the area within a few feet of your condenser unit clear and remove any visible debris on the unit whenever you notice it.

By far the best thing you can do when it comes to cleaning your air conditioner coils is to schedule a tune-up from Jerry Kelly before every cooling season. Cleaning your coils is an essential aspect of our tune-ups, and it will ensure that your coils will work efficiently all summer long.

If you have any questions about cleaning your air conditioner coils, or if you'd like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly, your St. Charles air conditioning contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Creve Coeur, Dardenne Prairie and Des Peres.